Larvicidal potential of Cipadessa baccifera leaf extract-synthesized zinc nanoparticles against three major mosquito vectors

Mosquitoes are important vectors, which transmit many communicable diseases throughout the world. Synthetic insecticides, such as organophosphate and pyrethroids, are commonly used for their control in the vector control program. Insecticidal compounds from natural sources, notably from plants and synthesized nanoparticles (NPs) are promising tools for managing such vectors. Hence, the study aimed to analyze the insecticidal potentiality of leaf extract of Cipadessa baccifera and synthesized ZnNPs against three major mosquito vectors. The results recorded from UV-Vis spectroscopy show the peak absorption spectrum at 420 nm. In FTIR, the maximum peak value is 562.85 cm−1 assigned to the N–H group (amide group). The EDAX analysis shows a peak around 63.29, which confirms the binding intensity of selenium. In the scanning electron microscopy analysis, the synthesized ZnNPs sizes were ranging from 49.21 to 65.43 nm. The synthesized ZnNPs produced high mortality against Culex quinquefasciatus LC50 = 0.049653 mg·mL−1; LC90 = 0.9842 mg·mL−1), Anopheles stephensi (LC50 = 0.053421 mg·mL−1 and LC90 = 0.027761 mg·mL−1), and Aedes aegypti LC50 = 0.55214 mg·mL−1 and LC90 = 0.7456 mg·mL−1). These results suggest that the C. baccifera leaf extract-mediated biosynthesis of ZnNPs has the potential to be used as an ideal eco-friendly approach toward the control of mosquito vectors at early stages.